Sakura Fifteen Set for Italian Job in Pordenone
Japan Head Coach Toshizumi Kitagawa has named his Sakura Fifteen side to face Italy today, September 19, in their first match of the 2026 WXV Global Series. Kicking off at 14:30 local time (21:30 JST), the match will take place at Stadio Omero Tognon in Pordenone, around an hour’s drive northeast of Venice.
Captained by experienced halfback Moe Tsukui, the side continues to reflect a blend of established international experience and emerging talent as Kitagawa works to develop his squad in the first year of the four-year cycle towards Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.
There are several changes to the starting side from Japan’s last match against Fiji. Hinata Komaki comes into the front row at loosehead prop, joining Asuka Kuge and Wako Kitano, while the experienced second-row combination of Masami Kawamura and Yuna Sato remains unchanged.
Nami Asari and Sakurako Korai continue in the back row, where they are joined by Jennifer Nduka at number eight. Nduka moves into the starting side after featuring among the replacements against Fiji.
In the backs, captain Tsukui again starts at halfback, with Sawa Harada moving into the starting side at flyhalf. The experienced Mana Furuta and Haruka Hirotsu continue their midfield combination, while Komachi Imakugi comes onto the left wing. Sora Nishimura moves from fullback to the right wing, with Maiko Nishi shifting from the wing to start at fullback.
The reserves feature a combination of experience and developing talent. Moe Nagaoka, Nami Yoshida and Juka Fuji provide front-row cover, while the experienced Otoka Yoshimura joins Mele Yua Havili Kagawa among the forward replacements. Anan Seo and Kanna Hayashi provide cover across the backs.
Completing the matchday 23 is uncapped Uta Kataoka, who is in line to make her Sakura Fifteen test debut. The 22-year-old YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars back is the latest player to be introduced into the national team environment as Japan continues to build greater depth and experience across the squad.
Fans looking to catch the action live or via catch-up can tune into the match via the official YouTube channel of the Federazione Italiana Rugby at: https://www.youtube.com/live/YhUwD9vwP1Y
Sakura Fifteen Team List:
| Name | Team | Company | Height(cm) | Weight(kg) | DOB | Cap | |
| 1 | Hinata KOMAKI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 166 | 75 | 2001/5/9 | 21 |
| 2 | Asuka KUGE | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Goto Hygiene Consultant | 164 | 77 | 1994/9/22 | 27 |
| 3 | Wako KITANO | MIE PEARLS | Sumitomo Wiring Systems | 166 | 95 | 1999/9/8 | 26 |
| 4 | Masami KAWAMURA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | NTT FACILITIES, INC. | 173 | 75 | 1999/7/13 | 26 |
| 5 | Yuna SATO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 170 | 80 | 1998/9/11 | 30 |
| 6 | Nami ASARI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Hosei Univ. | 171 | 62 | 2008/2/1 | 1 |
| 7 | Sakurako KORAI | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | Sankyu Inc. | 166 | 67 | 2003/4/9 | 25 |
| 8 | Jennifer NDUKA | Hokkaido Barbarians Diana | Medical System Network | 168 | 75 | 2000/10/18 | 20 |
| 9 | Moe TSUKUI (C) | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | LIBEST Corp. | 153 | 54 | 2000/3/28 | 48 |
| 10 | Sawa HARADA | Japan Univ. of Economics | Japan Univ. of Economics | 165 | 63 | 2005/3/12 | 3 |
| 11 | Komachi IMAKUGI | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | OKINAYA Co.,Ltd. | 158 | 58 | 2002/1/6 | 35 |
| 12 | Mana FURUTA | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | NTT Facilities Inc. | 167 | 69 | 1997/11/16 | 42 |
| 13 | Haruka HIROTSU | Nanairo PRISM FUKUOKA | Kyushu Fuundou Sales Co., Ltd. | 169 | 71 | 2000/10/29 | 20 |
| 14 | Sora NISHIMURA | MIE PEARLS | Choko Co.，Ltd. | 167 | 67 | 2000/9/29 | 27 |
| 15 | Maiko NISHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Graduate School | 163 | 63 | 2004/1/27 | 1 |
| 16 | Moe NAGAOKA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Mitsubishi Jisho Property Management Co., Ltd. | 163 | 67 | 1999/6/7 | 7 |
| 17 | Nami YOSHIDA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Human Life care Yokohama | 165 | 76 | 1999/4/13 | 5 |
| 18 | Juka FUJI | YOKOHAMA TKM | TMG Head Office, Yokohama Branch | 171 | 85 | 2001/1/22 | 3 |
| 19 | Otoka YOSHIMURA | ARUKAS QUEEN KUMAGAYA | Saitamaken Shinkin Bank. | 174 | 83 | 2001/5/15 | 34 |
| 20 | Mele Yua HAVILI KAGAWA | YOKOHAMA TKM | Medical Corporation Yokohama Mirai Healthcare System | 171 | 74 | 2001/9/29 | 9 |
| 21 | Anan SEO | Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix | OSP HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. | 155 | 59 | 2001/7/16 | 4 |
| 22 | Kanna HAYASHI | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | SECOM CO., LTD. | 166 | 66 | 2001/4/30 | 3 |
| 23 | Uta KATAOKA | YOKOGAWA Musashino Artemi-Stars | Dic Solution Engineering Inc. | 166 | 66 | 2004/4/23 | 0 |
(c) Captain
Sakura Fifteen 2026 Match Schedule
Friday 4 September
Japan vs Fiji
12-15 (L)
JAPAN BASE Fukuoka
Saturday 19 September
Italy vs Japan
WXV Global Series
Pordenone, Italy
Sunday 27 September
Ireland vs Japan
WXV Global Series
Galway, Ireland
Saturday 3 October
Ireland vs Japan
WXV Global Series
Cork, Ireland
Saturday 24 October
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2026 / WXV Global Series
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 31 October
Japan vs Wales
WXV Global Series
Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park Rugby Stadium, Saitama